International Rebuilding Efforts To Begin Soon

Lebanon's only airport is to reopen Thursday when the Israeli military lifts the air and sea blockade they imposed when continuing hostilities with Hezbollah erupted into open warfare. The UN-brokered deal marks a major victory for UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

All the runways at Rafik Hariri I'ntl Airport were damaged early in the conflict by Israeli air attacks. Repairs were complete within three days of the cease fire and officials say they are ready to accept commercial aircraft.

A tacit agreement with Israel has allowed national carrier Middle East Airlines and Royal Jordanian to fly in and out of Lebanon during the blockade, but only through Amman, Jordan. Jordan maintains a peace treaty with Israel.

EgyptAir is to resume flights Friday, with Gulf Air to follow suit on Saturday. As Aero-News reported this week, a Qatar Airways flight also landed at the airport Monday -- marking the unofficial resumption of passenger service from the Beirut airport.

The Israeli government agreed to lift the blockade only after assurances from US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice that airports and seaports would be monitored by international forces. Israeli officials expressed concern that Hezbollah might rearm during the current cease fire, especially via the Syrian border.

Israeli spokeswoman Miri Eisin told the Associated Press, "We have said from the beginning of the blockade ... that as soon as international troops would arrive Israel would hand over the implementation of the (arms) embargo to the international troops."

With nearly 3200 UN troops there -- and 5000 expected by next week -- Israeli troops continue a slow withdrawal from war-torn southern Lebanon.

The Lebanese government estimates the costs for damages resulting from Israeli air strikes at $3.6 billion.

FMI: www.un.org